Province to start building southwest ring road within next two years

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Alberta Transportation expects to start construction on the southwest ring road within the next two years, with hopes of opening the major route running through Tsuu T’ina Nation lands by 2020.

But project leaders admit the massive undertaking — including 31 kilometres of roadway, 20 new interchanges and 66 bridge crossings — will have big challenges like building through the environmentally-sensitive Paskapoo Slopes and Weaselhead areas.

And neighbouring residents still worry about increased congestion, noise and bright lights along the route which will see up to eight-lanes of traffic in many areas, with estimates of up to 100,000 vehicles daily.

“We understand this is the best-case scenario we could get. It is a compromise,” said Allie Tulick, president of the Lakeview Community Association.

“But we are still very concerned about a lot of things. Will it actually reduce traffic congestion, or will it make it worse in some areas?

“And what about the Weaselhead? Lakeview is very worried about it and we’re just more vocal. What about all those other people that come from all over Calgary to use it every weekend?”Alberta Transportation will coordinate the project in two phases, focusing first on the south leg through the reserve, and completing land transfers between the federal government and First Nations. After contracts are tendered and awarded, work should begin on that leg sometime in 2016.

Soonafter, work will begin along the west leg, running south from Highway 1 through Paskapoo Slopes, then just east of 101 Street and finally to a new interchange at Sarcee and Glenmore Trail S.W. just as the road heads south into the reserve.

Since that section is shorter and less complicated, officials hope both legs should open at about the same time.

But Garry Lamb, urban construction manager with Alberta Transportation, admits several sections along the route will pose major challenges, including building through the environmentally-sensitive Weaselhead and Paskapoo Slopes areas.

“Parts of the Weaselhead will be different when we are finished with this road,” said Lamb, explaining that sections will be graded higher with the freeway running well above sensitive lands.

“We are continuing to work closely with Alberta Environment to ensure as minimal impacts as possible.”

Paskapoo Slopes, just south of where the existing northwest Stoney Trail ends, will also be affected as that interchange is expanded and the ring road will continue south through the slopes.

Because the hill, just west of Canada Olympic Park, is already very steep, contractors will have to remove millions of cubic metres of rock and dirt to reduce the hill’s grade.

“These are very steep grades, we’re moving five million cubic metres of dirt, and two million cubic metres of rock,” Lamb said.

As well, a massive new intersection upgrade where Sarcee Trail becomes Glenmore Trail, which will have dozens of new on and off ramps directing traffic in all directions.

“It looks a bit like a bunch of spaghetti,” Lamb said, explaining at a map of the intersection’s aerial view.

Most communities that run along the southwest ring road, which will reach six to eight lanes in most areas, are fairly well setback of the new road, including Lakeview and Lakeview Village.

But Tulick says she still worries about significant noise and bright light coming from the road into the quiet, upscale community.

“We also wonder what the new interchange at 37th street and Glenmore Trail will bring, how much more congestion will that be?”

Other communities along the city’s west edge, like The Slopes and Aspen Woods, may also face increased traffic and noise near their homes.

“We want to make sure that, as the process goes, we deal properly with traffic congestion and sound attenuation,” said Coun. Richard Pootmans who represents those areas.

Julie Radke, city project manager for the southwest ring road integration project, said the City of Calgary will continue to work alongside Alberta Transportation, Alberta Environment and the Tsuu T’ina Nation to ensure the least amount of negative impact possible on residents.

At the same time, commuters are expected to face faster, free-flowing commutes with more options to travel north to south in the city.

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